JACKSON, Wyo. — The beloved Grizzly 399, who was fatally struck by a car in 2024, will be commemorated in sculpture in a monument called “Against All Odds.” The celebration will take place on Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., at the National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA). The official reveal of the monument is free and open to the public, after which the sculptor Jocelyn Russell and local photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen will give a presentation on the creation of the piece from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The piece will remain permanently at NMWA. The unveiling will serve as a kick-off event to this year’s Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival.
“Grizzly 399 captured hearts far beyond Wyoming, and this monument gives visitors a place to reflect on what she represented — resilience, wildness, and the fragile balance between people and the animals we share this landscape with,” said NMWA Executive Director Steve Seamons. “We continually strive to inspire connections with wildlife and nature, the connection that Grizzly 399 inspired in visitors around the world is unparalleled. We hope to share that legacy of coexistence with future generations, that those who cannot see her in the wild, may still marvel at her legacy.”
The sculpture itself is large-scale: about one and a half times Grizzly 399’s actual size. Kristen Douglas-Seitz and Colleen Moore assisted Russell as members of the sculpting team.
On the journey to Jackson, the monument will also make fundraising stops including at the Edison House in downtown Salt Lake City, Flying Saddle Resort in Alpine and the Jackson Hole Winery near Indian Springs.
